A small passenger plane crashed earlier this afternoon near Bonita National Golf Course. Lee County Sheriff's Office held a press conference at Fire Station No. 26 off Bonita Beach Road at 3 p.m.
During this afternoon’s press conference, Undersheriff Carmine Marceno said the plane left Page Field earlier this afternoon and approximately 15 minutes after take-off called in a mayday, or distress call.
“Our team began to immediately work with the fire department to search that immediate area, and when we did, it revealed a small plane crash,” Marceno said. “And, so far, we have confirmed one person is deceased.”
Marceno said the deceased is presumed to be the pilot. It was unclear at the time if there was anyone else on board the plane.
Chief Joseph Daigle with the Bonita Springs Fire Department said, due to the plane’s location in a heavily wooded area near the golf and country club, the departments are also working with the state division of forestry.
“Who are also going to be cutting a line back there, which is going to be clearing a way for our units and also the sheriff’s office to make it back there safely,” Daigle said.
The deceased’s name and other details – like the content of the distress call – are expected to be released as the departments recover more from the crash site.
